There were hard luck stories aplenty after the sixtieth running of the $3,500,000 Group 1 Longines Golden Slipper Stakes (1200m) at Rosehill Gardens but that didn’t concern connections
Capitalist who prevailed in the World’s Greatest and Richest 2yo Race.
As the race unfolded, the first shock came when the
favourite Extreme Choice missed the start and was a clear second last on settling with only
Capitalist’s stablemate Defcon in a worse position after that colt bungled the start.
The Magic Millions winner Capitalist settled three pairs back on the fence from his perfect inside barrier as Thomas Huet on the surprise leader Sweet Cherry set sensible fractions up front.
When Shinn pressed the button the response was immediate and Capitalist hit the lead inside the 300 metres to beat Yankee Rose by a half-length with the heavily backed Flying Artie (Artie Schiller) a further one and three-quarter lengths back in third ahead of Godolphin's Telperion.
The $3.20 favourite Extreme Choice was never out of trouble finished eighth whilst Defcon from his hopeless position early on, kept finding dead-ends from the 600m to the 300m and his race was over before it really began.
For Blake Shinn it was redemption for missing the ride on
Gai Waterhouse’s Golden Slipper winner Sebring when suspended.
"Words can't describe it, I'm so emotional. This is the best feeling ever!" Shinn said.
"They wrote him off but I never wrote this horse off after his last start defeat.
"You just have to have the faith and go in confident into every race.
"Full credit to this horse's ability – he backed up from the Magic Millions and came here today and I was just saying come on mate, just one more performance and he did it for me and I'm just so proud.
"This is one of the greatest races in the world and to be able to win it, I just can't thank everyone enough."
"It was a great run in transit, they went fast and I let Flying Artie cross me three back the fence he settled so well.
"I was just waiting for my options assessing around the 600m and he really sprinted hard.
"He showed right from his first start that he was special and he was racing in restricted class as far as Magic Millions horses go, so you have to wait and see and because he got beaten the other day they didn't think that form was up to scratch.
"The way he's been working, the quality of work he does and the way he goes about his job. His work on Tuesday was great. I'm just so glad it came off today.
"Today's the day, he's done a great job.
A $165,000 Magic Millions purchase for James Harron Bloodstock from the Daandine Stud draft (breeders of his sire Written Tycoon), Capitalist advances his record to 4 wins and 1 second from 5 starts for earnings of $3,508,700.
His stud future had already been decided as his owners include
Newgate Farm.
Capitalist becomes the
first Group 1 winner for Woodside Park's popular stallion Written Tycoon who vaults to the top of the 2yo sire standings.
Written Tycoon has sired 15 Stakes Winners and 12 Stakes Placed horses and currently on the General Sires premiership sits 2nd on Individual Winners and 3rd on Earnings.
WRITTEN TYCOON - Sire
Bred in Queensland, Capitalist is a triumph for Daandine Stud, who also bred and sold his sire Written Tycoon.
In winning the world's richest juvenile race in dazzling style, Capitalist confirmed his status as one of the world's most valuable colts.
The win meant the handsome chestnut son of Written Tycoon has now won Australia's two richest races for youngsters after also sweeping January's Jeep Magic Millions 2YO Classic at the Gold Coast.
In what completed the fairytale result - not only did Daandine Stud breed Capitalist but they also bred and sold his sire, leading stallion Written Tycoon.
Capitalist's win continued a remarkable run in the world's richest two-year-old race for graduates of the Magic Millions' Gold Coast sale ring.
Of the last 13 winners of the race offered at auction, 10 were sold at the Gold Coast.
Importantly the Gold Coast is the only sale source of a Slipper winning colt since 2000 - Capitalist joining the likes of Stratum, Sebring, Pierro and Vancouver in that time.